I'm looking at getting a sterlingwear authentic peacoat, but I'm having a little trouble on which size I should get. I'm 5' 7'', 140lbs, 31 waist, and a 37 chest. I generally wear a 38S jacket, but that is a tad long. I asked a rep at sterlingwear and they said to get a 38R. I'm a little skeptical about that and would probably get a 38S, but I would like some insight before I make the plunge.

Thanks!

With the Authentic, I would suggest a 36 to get a more trim fit. If you get an Authentic in a 38 ( assuming a standard P2P) I think it will be larger in the torso than you would like. Going down a size, you may not need a short, but get from customer service the length of the sleeves and the length of the body to make sure.

I'm looking at getting a sterlingwear authentic peacoat, but I'm having a little trouble on which size I should get. I'm 5' 7'', 140lbs, 31 waist, and a 37 chest. I generally wear a 38S jacket, but that is a tad long. I asked a rep at sterlingwear and they said to get a 38R. I'm a little skeptical about that and would probably get a 38S, but I would like some insight before I make the plunge.

Thanks!

go to sterlings size chart.
the pea coat should be about 2 to 4 inches
longer than your suit coat. .the chart shows
the size matched with the chest measure.Edited by a tailor - 11/15/12 at 5:14pm

I've read numerous pages of this thread and Peacoat's article, but wanted to clarify before I order the Sterlingwear Authentic.
I am 5'6", 130 pounds and measure 34" in the chest. From what I understand, Sterlingwear runs a bit bigger than their size chart suggests and slimmer people should generally go one size down, correct? So size 34 for me?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peacoat

I agree. If you are 34" in the chest, then one size down would be a 32. But it would be best to see if Sterlingwear would give you a p2p on their Authentic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strangerjames

I'd go 32. You seem like a slim build person.

Thanks for the advice. I called Sterlingwear for the p2p and the lady told me it was 18" on both the 32 and 34, which doesn't make too much sense. I am not sure if she measured correctly, so I will just order the 34 and 32 and just return whichever doesn't fit - too much time spent on this already!

I also went ahead and ordered a J Crew baysweater thinsulate in XS since they have 30% off now. I tried it on in store and it seemed to fit pretty well but was maybe a bit tight when I moved my arms. The jacket and sleeves were a bit long as well. I measured the pit to pit in store at 18.5", which seems reasonable, but looking back I am not sure if I measured it correctly.

I will post a comparison once I get all three and will more accurately measure the pit to pit so others can see.

You would just have to compare the two side by side to fully understand. The Kersey is a softer and thicker shell. It feels better to the touch and looks better. Because it is thicker and more tightly woven, the shell is more wind resistant and water resistant than the Melton.
When the Navy switched to the Melton wool in 1980, there were complaints that it wasn't nearly as warm, and the wind would cut right through it--complaints no one voiced about the Kersey. So the Navy fixed that by adding a thinsulate liner. That took care of those complaints.
I actually like the liner of the current issue pea coats better as it is a softer fabric than the nylon liner of the Kersey coats. To me it feels as if it does a better job of holding in the body warmth. Of course if a sweater is worn under the coat, that is no longer at issue. One thing about the liner on the current issue is that it does pill up after wear. It isn't visible and really isn't a problem for me.
You really can't say that vintage pea coats are slimmer than their civilian counterparts as some of the civilian coats do have a slimmer cut. It is valid, however, to make that statement about the pea coats offered by Sterlingwear, Schott and Fidelity. A nice trim fit can be obtained in the vintage coats by going down one size. That normally doesn't allow room for a sweater, however, But a coat that fits closer to the body will be warmer than one fitted more loosely when the sweater isn't being worn. A simple solution is have two vintage pea coats. One to be worn without a sweater when the temps are in the upper 30s and 40s and one for temps in the upper teens to the 30s, to be worn with a sweater.
When I was a student, I spent a lot of time in NYC. I found that a peacoat with a sweater would get me through most of the weather there. Now of course we did a lot of walking and that tends to keep the body warmer. The normal temps were lows in the upper teens and highs in the twenties to lower thirties. For me, that was perfect peacoat weather. I only had one peacoat then and had enough room for a sweater underneath. Back then, the college student uniform was a peacoat with a turtleneck. A classic and warm combination. Haven't been back in a while and don't know what they are wearing these days.

Thank you for a such detailed reply. It really did clear a lot of things, and I'm now even more determined to buy a vintage coat!

I'm 6', 38" chest, and 31" waist . As much as I want the coat to be fitted, this will be my only coat, I'd like some room for a sweater. Would you still recommend getting a size 38 coat?

Ironrinn: the fit can only be determined by you. You are the one to wear it; however, It looks OK to me. If you want a tighter fit, then go down to a 38. Just be advised there may not be enough room for a sweater. The sleeves look fine to me. If you go down a size, the sleeves may be about 1/2" shorter, but I think that would still be OK.
A peacoat is an outerwear garment, not a suit jacket, and it should fit as such--in my opinion.

Thanks for the reply. I think I'm going to hang onto it, as I'll most likely be wearing a sweater under it and it still fits pretty well when not. My main concern, as I said, was the shoulders which have a fair bit of padding in them making them a bit stronger than I'm used to. I do have another question, however: The older coats are supposed to have the single button on the inside to secure the left side of the coat correct? Mine seems to be missing that which would make my next question: Is there a difference between the modern buttons and the 60s era buttons? My outgoing, civilian Sterlingwear coat has a plain black button on the inside, not sure if this was always the case.

I'm looking at getting a sterlingwear authentic peacoat, but I'm having a little trouble on which size I should get. I'm 5' 7'', 140lbs, 31 waist, and a 37 chest. I generally wear a 38S jacket, but that is a tad long. I asked a rep at sterlingwear and they said to get a 38R. I'm a little skeptical about that and would probably get a 38S, but I would like some insight before I make the plunge.

Thanks!

i'll let you know how mine fits. i'm about the same as you. 5'8", 140-145, 29/30 waist and 37 chest. i ordered a 36s in their authentic after some things i read on google searches. my jacket should be coming today

i'll let you know how mine fits. i'm about the same as you. 5'8", 140-145, 29/30 waist and 37 chest. i ordered a 36s in their authentic after some things i read on google searches. my jacket should be coming today

If you look back at my pics I posted I"m 5'9 and a bit and I weigh 146lbs. I have a 35 inch chest I think? I can fit into a 36R off the rack at say Zara or CM no issues. I have a 34R sterlingwear coat and it fits perfect in the shoulders but the PIT area is a big tight.. If I went with a 36R it would be swimming for sure.. I sized down because I read this same thread..

If you look back at my pics I posted I"m 5'9 and a bit and I weigh 146lbs. I have a 35 inch chest I think? I can fit into a 36R off the rack at say Zara or CM no issues. I have a 34R sterlingwear coat and it fits perfect in the shoulders but the PIT area is a big tight.. If I went with a 36R it would be swimming for sure.. I sized down because I read this same thread..

One factor that the pictures do not reveal is the condition of the inside of the coat--the condition of the lining. One might assume that the '67 coat would be in better shape. Doesn't mean it's true. Maybe you can ask VT about this.

Thank you for a such detailed reply. It really did clear a lot of things, and I'm now even more determined to buy a vintage coat!

I'm 6', 38" chest, and 31" waist . As much as I want the coat to be fitted, this will be my only coat, I'd like some room for a sweater. Would you still recommend getting a size 38 coat?

I think a size 38 would be the best all around fit in the chest for you. Some of this will be dependent on the p2p on the actual coat you receive.

If you normally wear a size 38 coat/jacket, do the sleeves fit you properly?

You probably have arms that are proportionate to your height. If so, at six feet tall, I believe a regular size 38 might have sleeves a little short for you. Two ways to remedy that: See if you can find a 38L. Or, some coats in a regular 38, have enough material inside the cuff to lengthen about an inch. Another way would be to get a regular size 40 (p2p of about 21.25") and have it taken in. Just depends on how long your arms are. Mine are a little bit long; as such, I am sensitive to sleeve length in all of my jackets and coats.

Or you may not even need anything done if you normally wear a size 38 coat/jacket that fits your arms with no problems.

I tend to like the older coats. As Clarinet Player said, the 1955 coat might have more wear, but the tag sell looks good on both of them. The 1955 appears to be slightly more worn of the two, but I wouldn't let that color my decision..

What I would be concerned about would be the p2p. Many of the vintage size 34 coats have a p2p of 19", which is bit large for the stated size of 34. We would expect a coat with a p2p of 19" to fit closer to a small size 36.

I think it is Important for Greg (no I don't know what happened to Gary) to give you an accurate p2p on this coat. What many of them like to do is to measure p2p, but then round off that number to the nearest whole number and then double it. Or they may double the p2p, then round off which they give as the "actual chest size." Or VT may give that as the "Measured Chest Size." That isn't what you want. Too many errors have crept in, plus you don't know exactly what they have done to arrive at their interpretation of the chest size. You want the actual pit to pit given to the closest 1/8". Have the seller lay the coat on a flat surface face up. Stretch the fabric both front and back, equally, to get the wrinkles out. Relax the coat, and take the measurement across the chest just under the armpits. It should be accurate within 1/8". Then you will know what you have.

I think a size 38 would be the best all around fit in the chest for you. Some of this will be dependent on the p2p on the actual coat you receive.
If you normally wear a size 38 coat/jacket, do the sleeves fit you properly?
You probably have arms that are proportionate to your height. If so, at six feet tall, I believe a regular size 38 might have sleeves a little short for you. Two ways to remedy that: See if you can find a 38L. Or, some coats in a regular 38, have enough material inside the cuff to lengthen about an inch. Another way would be to get a regular size 40 (p2p of about 21.25") and have it taken in. Just depends on how long your arms are. Mine are a little bit long; as such, I am sensitive to sleeve length in all of my jackets and coats.
Or you may not even need anything done if you normally wear a size 38 coat/jacket that fits your arms with no problems.

I bought a suit a couple of years ago and ended up getting a 40L jacket. I just tired it on and it's definitely roomy around chest and waist, though, I can't remember why I had to move up a size. I'm guessing it was because my shoulders were too wide for 38. My sleeve length is 34/35; I'm not sure that's proportionate to my height.